It’s amazing how self-sufficient our bodies are. In fact, science makes a distinction between voluntary processes, like making your head move, and involuntary ones. One vital organ that would fall under both categories is your lungs.

People don’t normally have to think twice about breathing every minute of every day, even while sleeping; they just do. But if you’ve been underwater, you’ve learned to hold your breath. However, if your lungs are compromised, you feel it all too well with every breath you take—and far too many people experience this. The American Lung Association website recognizes over fifty lung-related conditions, and the ALA says that every two minutes and thirty seconds, someone is diagnosed with lung cancer. It’s the leading cause of cancer mortality, but the good news is the survival rate has been improving in recent years.

Lung health is crucial, so let’s take a closer look at what this organ is composed of, what can compromise it, and how you can strengthen it.

LUNGS: THE FACTS

To get the oxygen you need to live, you breathe air through your nose and mouth and send it down your trachea, which has mucus and tiny hairs that trap contaminants as air flows through to your lungs: the larger, three-chambered right lung and the smaller (thanks to your heart), two-chambered left lung.

From there, it’s almost like an upside-down tree structure. The trachea (the “trunk”) divides into bronchi (“branches”) in your lungs, then bronchioles (smaller branches), and then alveoli, which are like millions of tiny buds. It’s here that oxygen enters your bloodstream and carbon dioxide leaves. As far as how this all happens, you can thank your diaphragm and rib-cage muscles, which work together to expand and contract your otherwise stationary lungs.

This is a constantly repeating process; we breathe about fifteen times per minute and take in around 5,000 gallons of air every day. So it’s important to understand the primary factors that can put your lungs at risk and what you can do to protect them.

WAYS TO LOVE YOUR LUNGS

Considering our lungs’ sheer volume of work, it’s understandable that we breathe in things that are not so good for us, such as smoke. That said, there are numerous contaminants, from dust mites to pet dander to mold to chemicals, that affect our lungs and need to be accounted for, especially indoors. Fortunately, there are several things you can do—and avoid doing—to help improve your lung health.

BE PROACTIVE

• Schedule a doctor’s visit. Regular lung monitoring is vital because early detection of lung-related conditions can greatly increase the chances of overcoming them.
• Don’t smoke. This may be the most proactive step you can take, but you should also avoid secondhand smoke because it, too, is harmful.
• Treat your lungs like muscles by giving them a good workout every day, whether that means going for a walk or climbing stairs.
• Drinking several glasses of water daily is good for your overall health, but doing so also keeps the mucus in your lungs thin, as it should be.
• Minimize chemicals. As a general mantra, remember that if you can smell it, then you’ve breathed it in. So try using cleaners with natural ingredients, and opt for zero-VOC paints.
• Monitor your indoor air quality. Be aware of any unusual smells when you walk into your house or a particular room and whether you start feeling effects like a runny nose. It could indicate the presence of mold.
• Monitor your outdoor air quality. In general, being in nature is good for you, but places like cities tend to have poor air quality. Before you go outside, make a habit of checking a website like accuweather.com, which will give you a real-time statement about your area’s outdoor air quality.

BE VIGILANT

• Buy a radon test. If your home has a basement, you should get your it regularly tested for radon, a virtually undetectable gas that seeps into basements through the soil and is the second-leading cause of lung cancer.
• Monitor mold growth. Naturally humid places, such as bathrooms and basements, can be breeding grounds for mold. Check these spaces monthly, fix any leaks, and seek the advice of a mold-remediation specialist if need be.
• Change your filters. Filters, especially ones found in vacuum cleaners, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and HVAC units, are designed to trap dirt, dust, and other debris. Cleaning or replacing these filters regularly, especially the ones in your HVAC unit, can help keep your home’s air cleaner.
• If you have carpets, it’s recommended that you vacuum them a few times a week because they are great at keeping things like dead skin, pet dander, dust mites, and other allergens trapped—all of which you’re potentially inhaling.

It’s been said that every breath is a gift. So make sure to take care of the organ that allows this to happen every day of your life, your lungs, so you can breathe in all life has to offer.

For more information, visit lung.org